Schools and state receive voter support

Every proposal on last week's election ballots sailed onto approval as voters signed off on billions of dollars of new state spending, and tens of millions for local school improvements.

Although no local elected offices were up for grabs Nov. 6, voters approved three local school bond elections, a local proposition, and had input on 16 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, all of which passed.

Voter turnout in Nueces County was 6.47 percent, or "ultra-light" as one poll worker in Robstown described it on Election Day Nov. 6. Voting was suspended for about 45 minutes in Robstown due to an electrical outage.

Voter turnout statewide was 8.65 percent, said the secretary of state's office.

The ballots were topped with the 16 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, including an amendment on cancer research and one requiring legislators to take recorded votes on final passage of every bill.

Those propositions were followed by a local proposition pertaining to the Fire and Police Relations Act.

The local proposition asked voters to approve "adoption of the state law applicable to police officers that establishes collective bargaining if a majority of the affected employees favor representation by an employees association, preserves the prohibition against strikes and lockouts, and provides penalties for strikes and lockouts."

The law enforcement proposition passed easily as it obtained 71.96 percent voter approval, with 8,273 Nueces County voters supporting it and 3,224 voters opposing it.

All 16 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution passed with majority votes Nov. 6, both locally and statewide.

Proposition 1 "providing for the continuation of the constitutional appropriation for facilities and other capital items at Angelo State University on a change in the governance of the university" received 69.67 percent support in Nueces County, and 66.28 percent support statewide.

Proposition 2 authorizing the issuance of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans obtained 71.88 percent support in Nueces County, and 65.85 percent support statewide.

Proposition 3 limiting the appraised value of residence homesteads received 76.56 percent support in Nueces County, and 71.48 percent support statewide.

Proposition 4 authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds for construction projects obtained 66.01 percent support in Nueces County, and 58.19 percent support statewide.

Proposition 5 authorizing the voters of a municipality under 10,000 people to limit municipal property taxes for the first five tax years after an agreement is entered received 70.58 percent support in Nueces County, and 66 percent support statewide.

Proposition 6 "authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle owned by an individual and used in the course of the owner's occupation or profession and also for personal activities of the owner" obtained 77.25 percent support in Nueces County, and 73.69 percent support statewide.

Proposition 7 allowing "governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property" received 82.93 support in Nueces County, and 80.3 percent support statewide.

Proposition 8 clarifying "certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds" obtained 82.13 support in Nueces County, and 77.55 percent support statewide.

Proposition 9 exempting ad valorem taxation on all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans received 87.06 voter support in Nueces County, and 86.19 percent support statewide.

Proposition 10 abolishing the constitutional authority for the Office of Inspector of Hides and Animals obtained 80.95 percent support in Nueces County, and 76.54 percent support statewide.

Proposition 11 requiring recorded votes in the legislature on final passage of bills and to make the votes available on the Internet received 89.37 percent support in Nueces County, and 84.51 percent support statewide.

Proposition 12 authorizing the Texas Transportation Commission to issue $5 billion of general obligation bonds for highway improvements obtained 69.52 percent support in Nueces County, and 62.61 percent support statewide.

Proposition 13 "authorizing the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case" received 88.49 percent support in Nueces County, and 83.85 percent support statewide.

Proposition 14 "permitting a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of the justice's or judge's current term" obtained 79.54 percent support in Nueces County, and 74.99 percent support statewide.

Proposition 15 creating the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizing up to $3 billion in bonds for cancer research in Texas received 65.54 percent support in Nueces County, and 61.43 percent support statewide.

Proposition 16 providing for the issuance of $250 million of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board to provide assistance to economically distressed areas obtained 62.87 percent support in Nueces County, and 60.77 percent support statewide.

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